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Q&A with Lara Thompson, author of Film Light

1. What book in this field has inspired you the most?

L’Attrait de la lumière (2010) by Jacques Aumont – small, essential, evocative – desperately needs to be translated into English so I can share it with my students!

Did your research take you to any unexpected places?

I am lucky to work in a field like cinema in which it is possible to travel from a court house in the time of Joan of Arc, via a twilit 1960s Italian garden, to a spaceship ricocheting around the earth at unimaginable speed, without ever leaving the comfort of my sofa.

What did you enjoy the most about writing your book?

The opportunity to re-watch iconic films from around the world and concentrate solely on the way they communicate emotion via shifts in light and shadow.

What did you find hardest about writing your book?

Light is so fundamental to cinema, it was almost impossible to narrow my field of study – there is so much further work to be done in this area!

Why did you choose to publish with MUP?

Impressive international reputation. Commitment to my subject area. Dedication to working closely and compassionately with authors.

Have you had time to think about your next research project yet? What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a project about the body in cinematic space called Zero Gravity Cinema.